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'So You Think You Can Dance': Top 10 dancers are...

By Jacquie OliveriusCorrespondent

Updated:
07/31/2014 10:36:46 AM MDT

For a quartet of the 14 dancers on "So You Think You Can Dance," this week will be their last performance.

Wednesday was a night that was packed with excitement, from a twist on the standard "who's in the bottom" announcement, to great couples routines and solos by those in danger, and group numbers by all of the gals and then all of the guys. Oh my!!

Oops, I forgot that there was a performance by another dance crew, Academy of Villains. Hmm, is this crew getting a little extra treatment since two of their members, "Pharside" and "Phoenix," choreographed one of the routines, as well as a couple previous routines? Along with judges Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy, actress/dancer Christina Applegate served as guest judge, and she was fantastic, IMHO!

It was a night to remember on "So You Think You Can Dance" on Wednesday. (Courtesty of Fox)

After the opening number, host Cat Deeley named the TOP eight dancers -- now that's a nice positive move! That left six dancers -- three guys and three girls -- to battle it out for the final two spots in the Top 10.

Each had the opportunity to set the dance floor on fire during a solo to show their best technique and to impress the judges. And isn't it interesting that the six were already paired up in performances? Serge Onik and Carly Blaney, Casey Askew and Jessica Richens, and Teddy Coffey and Emily James had an extra reason to bring out the best in each other. Before each routine in the show, each dancer described what his or her partner would bring to the Top 10 -- some were cute, some were silly, all were easily ignored. Sigh.

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My hands-down favorite piece by the couples was the contemporary number by Casey and Jessica that was choreographed by, of course, Travis Wall. This guy, who came in second in Season 2, has become an incredible talent in choreography, and it really showed in this number of two people falling in love at first kiss -- yep, there was actual liplock! The three judges gave the routine a standing ovation, as did the entire audience. Christina said that both dancers could win it all and vowed that they should never be in the bottom again. Mary agreed with her and called the dance, "incredible." Nigel thought it was "something very magical."

A close second was the weirdly wonderful hip-hop piece that was choreographed by the Academy of Villains duo and featured Ricky Ubeda as a witch doctor and Valerie Rockey as his new doll. It was an outstanding exhibition of dance by two who don't usually do hip-hop. Nigel said they were both outstanding, Christina asked, "Is there anything you two can't do?" and Mary thought it was the best number of the night for her.

The rest of the numbers were good but not quite of the same quality. Bridget Whitman and Emilio Dosal did a jazz routine that Nigel called "outstanding," and Christina wanted to learn. Tanisha Belnap and Rudy Abreu performed a contemporary Mandy Moore routine that brought Christina to her feet in applause, and brought out a full-throated scream from Mary. The way that Rudy tossed Tanisha around was amazing and made it seem that she weighed next to nothing.

Zack Everhart Jr. and Jacque LeWarne danced a paso doble with a vampire theme. When the number ended and the lights went up, all three judges were wearing vampire fangs! I thought that Zack was terrific but that Jacque could have been better. The costumers got a nice nod from Nigel when he mentioned that the crew had won an Emmy. Emily and Teddy performed a Broadway number, but it just didn't work for me. They seemed out of sync at times, and didn't really have a Broadway vibe. Nigel, after commenting that the style was harder than it looked, said he was disappointed in the ending, and the others agreed with him.

The final couple was Carly and Serge, who performed a quickstep, one of the hardest dances to do well. The judges thought it was OK, but Christina told them to watch some vintage Ann Miller film to see how it was done with a certain something.

As for the solos, which were scattered throughout the show, most just didn't have that "dancing for your life" punch to them -- with the exception of Casey and Jessica. Casey came roaring out with leaps and flourishes that dazzled, and then capped it with his incredible spinning that seems to go on forever. And Jessica showed off all of her best dance technique.

Mandy Moore choreographed a group routine for the girls that was breathtaking. It was meant to show strong women and it did, as they danced as a group, with one then another moving out and around through the routine. At the end, after absorbing a standing ovation from the judges, two of the dancers were in tears, and so was Mary Murphy. Christine said simply, "I can't even breathe right now." Nigel called it a "work of art," and mentioned how last week's guest judge Misty Copeland thought the guys were better this season, adding, "Misty, you were wrong!"

And what could follow that? A group number for the guys by Travis Wall that seemed like all of the dancers were underwater. The continual wave motion was exaggerated by the dancers in an elegant, amazing way, and prompted another standing ovation by the judges. Mary said, "Wow! Travis, you did it again. Spectacular!" Christina was almost speechless and Nigel, likening it to the flowing of the tide, admitted that "maybe Misty was a little right."

I said that this was a jam-packed show, and it even had an interview between tWitch and Cyrus about the upcoming movie, "Step Up: All In," in which both star.

Then it was time to know. As the six in jeopardy stood on the stage, Nigel asked Casey and Jessica to step forward and told them they were in the Top 10, at which point both dancers burst into tears and hugged each other. For the four going home, it was great that Nigel took the time to urge them all to continue dancing and that it was just a "bump in the road" in their journey as a dancer.

Finally, the Top 10 lined up and Cat told each dancer who their All Star partner would be. Performing next week will be Rudy with Jenna; Jacque and Kioung; Zack and Amy; Bridget with Brandon; Ricky and Lauren; Tanisha with Ryan; Emilio with Jasmine; Casey and Cathryn; and Jessica with tWitch. Some of these pairings will be incredible and some have me shaking my head, but it certainly will be entertaining. And who knows, maybe we might get an awesome number like the hip-hop one tWitch with Alex Wong did four years ago that people are still talking about. Google it if you don't believe me how good it was! See you next week -- keep dancing!!